DETROIT, Michigan — “LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOO!”
A blonde with a tattoo of the state of Michigan on her forearm thrusts her fist into the air.
It is just after 1:30 a.m., and Abdul El-Sayed, a doctor turned podcaster, has been senator-elect for approximately one minute. Three friends next to me embrace in a hug. Hundreds of his supporters, crowded into a downtown event space, raise their smartphones. As his signature walk-out song, Tupac Shakur’s “Changes,” fades into the background, the 42-year-old leads the crowd into his usual ritual.
“All right, friends, you know how we do,” he beamed.
For the past year and a half, El-Sayed’s crowds across Michigan have finished his three signature campaign slogans at nearly every rally. Tonight, his promises are victory cries.
“Money out of—”
“POLITICS!”
“Money in your—”
“POCKET!”
“Medicare for—”
“ALL!”
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